Celtic kept their Champions League aspirations moving with a lacklustre draw away to Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday night.
The Scottish side have enjoyed an impressive start to their European campaign, claiming big wins against Slovan Bratislava and RB Leipzig, as well as a massive draw away against Europa League champions Atalanta.
However, Tuesday night's trip to Croatia is not a tie that will live particularly long in the memory of Celtic fans when it comes to excitement.
Clearcut chances were few and far between for Celtic, who mustered just one shot on target across the 90 minutes. Manager Brendan Rodgers admitted post-match that a chance for a massive away win might have slipped through Celtic's grasp.
We needed to do more, we needed to know...we know it was an opportunity for us here, but you have to show that a little bit more in those moments when you’re right back in there. Too often it just came away from us.
Despite Celtic feeling some disapppointment at the outcome of Tuesday's game, their fans can feel hope that the Champions League knockouts are on the horizon for the first time in over a decade.
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Celtic on verge of Champions League knockout phase
Statisticians Opta have run a huge number of simulations in an attempt to predict how the inaugural Champions League league phase will conclude.
Across 5,000 Opta simulations, ten points was enough to qualify for the knockout playoffs 99% of the time.
With Celtic sitting on nine points and two games still to play, that is a hugely encouraging metric for the Scottish champions.
Celtic's final two games will see them host Young Boys on January 22nd before a massive trip to high-flying Aston Villa on the final night of league phase action. One point should be enough, but a win in either game would effectively secure Celtic's place in the knockout stage for the first time since 2013.
Should they progress by finishing in the top 24, Celtic are likely to enter the playoff round. Teams 1-8 will progress straight to the last 16, while teams 9-24 will face off in two-legged Seeded v Unseeded ties to fill the final eight spots.
The Hoops will see the tie against Young Boys as their big chance of picking up at least the point they hope will be enough to see them progress - the Swiss side are currently rooted to the bottom of the table with 0 points and just two goals scored.
Things are looking up for Celtic. No doubt Brendan Rodgers will be urging the squad to keep a level head, with a historic progression to the knockout rounds looking increasingly clear on the horizon.
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